Fenjiang City, Jiangnan Province
Room 203, 2nd floor, Qing'an Mental Hospital. A young man with an ordinary appearance and a pale face lay motionless on the bed.
His name was Lin Yun, but he was no longer the fifth son, Lin Yun, of the Lin family.
Lin Yun had been here for three days. More precisely, he had been reborn here three days ago. Though three days was a short time, it was enough for him to understand his current situation.
Lin Yun was originally from the Tianhong Continent. His family there was a relatively small Cultivation family. The Tianhong Continent was a continent with advanced science, far surpassing Earth. Furthermore, it was a place where both technology and Cultivation existed. Cultivation on the Tianhong Continent referred to Cultivators, Soul Cultivators, Qi Cultivators, and Material Cultivators.
In fact, to put it plainly, through various cultivation methods, practitioners could increase their lifespan and combat abilities. And cultivation required spiritual energy. However, on the Tianhong Continent, spiritual energy was most densely concentrated in areas where humans lived. Therefore, demon beasts or alien races often sought to invade human territories. This also led to continuous, prolonged wars.
To defend against invasions from external races, as well as resource wars between nations, the humans on the Tianhong Continent continuously cultivated their own abilities while simultaneously developing science and technology.
Lin Yun had a bright personality, wasn't bothered by trifles, and was very generous. He was not only a senior electronics researcher but also a pharmaceutical researcher and a Star Cultivator.
Star Cultivation was a type of cultivation belonging to Material Cultivation. However, very few people on the Tianhong Continent practiced this type of cultivation. This was because a practitioner needed to possess sufficient Star Essence within their body and soul. Star Essence was like the spiritual root of a Cultivator or the soul root of a Soul Cultivator. Moreover, Star Cultivators, upon reaching the Second Star, and especially when cultivating to the Fifth Star, would immediately suffer soul dispersion and body destruction.
Although the combat power of Star Cultivators was the strongest among all Cultivators, cultivating to the highest level, the Ninth Star, allowed one to ascend. But this was only a legend. Throughout the history of the Tianhong Continent, no Cultivator had ever been seen to ascend, let alone a Star Cultivator.
Very few people possessed enough Star Essence, let alone cultivated to the Fifth Star. Because cultivating to the Third Star was already considered impossible. In the history of the Tianhong Continent, the highest achievement for a Star Cultivator was only the Fourth Star. Furthermore, throughout the entire Tianhong Continent, Star Cultivation techniques only went up to the Fifth Star. From the Fifth Star onwards, even if one succeeded in cultivating, there were no cultivation techniques available to continue.
However, Lin Yun possessed both a spiritual root and Star Essence, so he decided to choose Star Cultivation. Additionally, he accidentally found a complete set of Star Cultivation techniques that went up to the Ninth Star. These techniques were left behind by a senior who had already ascended. Moreover, the techniques stated that as long as one's soul power could break through the Fifth Star barrier, there was hope of cultivating to the Ninth Star. Furthermore, this set of techniques clearly described the method to overcome the Fifth Star barrier. In fact, it merely corrected the cultivation method that had originally been corrupted by later generations.
This discovery made Lin Yun extremely excited. Without hesitation, he chose Star Cultivation. He believed that as long as he broke through the Five-Star barrier, he would definitely be able to reach Five Stars. But Lin Yun had truly overestimated himself. Although he had cultivated to Five Stars, he was even the first person in the history of the Tianhong Continent to reach Five Stars.
On the very day he reached Five Stars, the Alien Race suddenly attacked. While Lin Yun was fighting the Alien Race, his Five-Star power, which was not yet stable, suddenly erupted. Both Lin Yun and the Alien Demonic Beast were crushed by an immense soul force, causing their souls to scatter.
What made Lin Yun feel fortunate was that his soul, enveloped by the Five-Star soul force, passed through a black hole and was reborn into a mentally ill person on Earth.
Lin Yun let out a bitter laugh. This identity was a bit too fitting. Because on the Tianhong Continent, he also had the nickname "The Madman." Whether in scientific and technological research, cultivation and combat, or even in the area of "chasing girls," others called him "The Madman." Well, isn't this just perfect; he was truly reborn into the body of a madman.
After three days of integration, Lin Yun understood the identity of this body and his current location. According to this person's old memories, the place he was reborn into was called Earth. However, its scientific development lagged behind the Tianhong Continent by two hundred years. In other words, it was far behind.
And this body of his was also named Lin Yun. He was the fifth son of Lin Yuanzhang, the head of the great Lin family. The Lin family could be considered the largest among the ten great families of Huaguo. Their businesses not only spanned the globe, but a member of the Lin family was also among the five top central leaders.
This Lin Yun was not born mentally ill, but became so later. He was originally a spoiled, dissolute young master, indulging in drinking, womanizing, and gambling – there was nothing he wouldn't do. But he had no talent whatsoever for business or officialdom. Among the young masters of the Lin family's generation, there was no shortage of profligates. But at least they could accomplish something, not just indulge in pleasure.
Lin Yuanzhang had six sons and three daughters. For this son, Lin Yun, who only knew how to squander the family fortune and had no ambition, he simply gave up on him. The Lin family had vast assets, and there was no shortage of heirs to the family business. Therefore, three years ago, he decisively forced Lin Yun to marry a wife, then gave him some family property and left him to his own devices.
Although Lin Yun was unbearable, Lin Yuanzhang did not casually let him marry just any random woman. Either for political reasons or some other cause, he married Han Yuxi, the third daughter of Han Zhengping from the Han family, a small, declining family.
But Lin Yun remained true to his old ways. In just one year, he squandered away every last bit of his remaining property. If his residence hadn't been Lin Yuanzhang's property, Lin Yun might have sold that too.
However, two years ago, Lin Yun suddenly fell ill. Although he received timely treatment, he subsequently became a regular at the mental hospital. Once he had an episode, he would immediately beat people, smash and burn things around him, like a mad dog. Therefore, he often had to stay here for a month; once he improved a little, someone would take him back. Usually, his mother would hire a nanny to bring Lin Yun back to his residence.
But this time, Lin Yun had been here for three months. However, Lin Yun was no longer the debauched, pleasure-seeking Lin Yun of before, but the Lin Yun from the Tianhong Continent. Someone should have come to pick him up and take him back by now. But he waited and waited, and no one came to take him back. Each day, only an attendant would come, take the books Lin Yun had finished, and exchange them for a new one.
Regarding Lin Yun's transformation, Granny Hao, the attendant who had been consistently looking after him, was the clearest witness. Although she knew Lin Yun's mental illness was very difficult to cure, these past few days, Lin Yun not only hadn't hit or cursed at anyone, but he even called her "Auntie." He also asked her to bring him some books to read.
Currently, Lin Yun had just finished reading a copy of "Jiangnan Chronicles," which he tossed onto the bed before staring blankly at the ceiling.
This body, though incredibly frail—even a passing breeze could make it sway—the inner foundation clearly contained Star Essence. Although not as much as he had in his previous life, as long as there was Star Essence, he could cultivate once more.
Although he had experienced failure the first time, Lin Yun still believed he could overcome the Five-Star barrier. There was no other reason, just a feeling. But currently, he couldn't cultivate. His body was truly too weak. Only after properly nourishing his body could he begin his Star Cultivation plan.
Having recently read several books and magazines, Lin Yun had confirmed that there were very few Cultivators (Tu Zhenzhe) on Earth. They were all ancient legends. But Lin Yun wouldn't assume that there were no longer any Cultivators on Earth because of this. After all, legends must have some basis to be passed down through generations.
"Get dressed and follow me."
A voice, cold as ice and devoid of emotion, rang out from the doorway.
Lin Yun looked up. A girl of frightening beauty stood in the doorway. But her face was as stiff as ice. Her words carried no emotional nuance. Lin Yun immediately knew who this person was: Han Yuxi. Although a large part of Lin Yun's memory had vanished, some key memories still remained.
Han Yuxi was considered a bargaining chip between the Han family and the Lin family, intended to help the Han family revive. Indeed, the Han family had gained some benefits from this marriage. A few casual words from Lin Yuanzhang could bring the Han family considerable advantages. Even without Lin Yuanzhang's direct words, the mere rumor that the Han family had a son-in-law who was Lin Yuanzhang's son was enough.
The truth was, Lin Yuanzhang would fundamentally not bother with Lin Yun. He had completely given up on this wasteful son. But regardless, the news that the Han family's son-in-law was his son had spread everywhere. Although he knew the Han family's intentions, Lin Yuanzhang said nothing further. Whatever the Han family did, it had nothing to do with him.
Lin Yun's mother, though anxious, could do nothing. Lin Yuanzhang had issued an order: if she dared to go to the hospital to pick up that mentally ill, uneducated, and jobless son, she and her two children would immediately be expelled from Fenjiang City.
However, Lin Yun's mother, He Ying, still wanted to pick up Lin Yun, but she had been placed under house arrest by Lin Yuanzhang. Furthermore, Lin Yun also had a younger sister, and He Ying couldn't just abandon them. After all, He Ying was not Lin Yuanzhang's official wife, but merely a concubine. And Lin Yuanzhang had several concubines like her.
Because of Lâm Vân's younger sister, who was still in school, Hà Anh didn't dare to overstep her bounds and make demands of Lâm Viễn Chương. She could only entrust her hopes to Lâm Vân's wife, Hàn Vũ Tích, hoping she could bring Lâm Vân back quickly so he wouldn't have to stay in the mental hospital. But deep down, Hà Anh knew this was a slim hope.
Although Hàn Vũ Tích was living alone, she hoped Lâm Vân would never return. However, Lâm Vân had been in the hospital for two months, and no one had brought him back. Although she felt very happy, she couldn't pretend not to know.
Because every time Lâm Vân returned from the hospital, his mental illness would relapse a week later. That's why Hàn Vũ Tích persisted in going to the hospital to pick him up. Although the Lâm family neglected this son, Lâm Vân, once something happened to him, the Lâm family would hold the Hàn family accountable. Hàn Vũ Tích wasn't afraid of the Lâm family; she was just worried the Hàn family wouldn't be able to withstand the Lâm family's ensuing wrath.